Guinness Treats

On my mother's side of the family, everybody is Irish. So most foods are made like the Irish. My aunt always makes Guinness Brownies. They are the best treats that anyone brings to my grandmother's house. Everybody eats them and the brownies will disappear within minutes. She gave me her recipe and now I will share it with you.

INGREDIENTS:

½ cup Guinness stout
12 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup unsalted butter
1½ cup granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt

STEPS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x9-inch square baking pan, then line with parchment paper.

2. Bring the Guinness to a boil over medium-high heat in a small saucepan. Boil until reduced to ¼ cup, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.

3. Place the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water and stir occasionally until completely melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and set aside.

4. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, eggs and vanilla extract until thoroughly combined and pale yellow in color. Gradually whisk in the melted chocolate mixture, then the reduced Guinness. Add the flour and salt and fold into the batter with a rubber spatula until no streaks of flour remain.

5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs attached, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and place the pan on a wire rack; cool completely before cutting and serving. The brownies should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.